Dulquer Salmaan: I like to go out of my comfort zone

Dulquer Salmaan is back with a bang.

His recent comedy, ABCD set the cash registers ringing while his role as the narrator in 5 Sundarikal received rave reviews.

His latest release, Neelakasham Pachakkadal Chuvanna Bhoomi, has surprised audiences with its unconventional style.

Dulquer says that “films like this are hard to come by in one's lifetime.”

In this interview with Vijay G, the actor talks about his films and his growing confidence as an actor. Read on.

Your latest release, Neelaksham Pachakkadal Chuvanna Bhoomi, was about a remarkable journey on a motorcycle. How was the process of making it?

It was a wonderful experience. Though I always wanted to go on such an adventure in real life, my parents would never allow it.

Now I had a reason to do so and I really enjoyed it. It can be called a road movie or a riding movie but the film is essentially a love story.

I play an engineer who is just out of college and is confused about what to do next. He is pretty reserved, like my character Johns in ABCD.

It was truly an overwhelming feeling being part of the journey that the film is about.

How keen are you to experiment with various genres?

I feel lucky that I always have a number of films to choose from. I would like to come out of my comfort zone while doing various roles and I don’t want to keep repeating my characters.

Right now I am doing a romantic tale called Pattam Pole and will start shooting a comedy, Salalah Mobiles.

Your role as the narrator in Amal Neerad’s Kullante Bharya was really appreciated in the 5 Sundarikal omnibus.

It’s been hectic for the past year with two huge productions that took some time in the making -- Neelakasham Pachakkadal Chuvanna Bhoomi and ABCD.

Then Amal Neerad came to me with this project. He had a clear idea about the character who, incidentally, has no name. The brief was really interesting. I loved doing the film.

Though it opened to a mixed response, ABCD has become a hit.

After my first three films, people seemed to view my films too seriously. I feel that ABCD shouldn’t be taken seriously. It is a light-hearted film, which is just a summer in the lives of two NRI kids.

Do you feel more confident as an actor now?

Of course. It’s like the more films you do the more experience you gain, and you want to explore more. Maybe it is then that you try doing something different.